Ep. 174 Kindness is Contagious and We Need it Now More Than Ever

In this episode I'm sharing research by Dr. Jonathan Haidt that demonstrates the ripple effects transmitted from each and every act of kindness. When other people see us being kind it changes them. And this moment in time--when people are feeling overwhelmed, polarized, frightened, and uncertain--is exactly when kindness is needed. "Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing." from the poem Kindness by Naomi Shihab NyeThis episode includes:How we collectively know deep sorrow at this time in historyApples: a simple story of kindness becoming contagiousDr. Jonathan Haidt's research findings about kindnessNoticing the effects of kindness on othersThe Kindness Walk as a practiceInvitation to share your kindness stories with me at [email protected] about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episode I share a useful and simple metaphor for levels of consciousness that can help us understand why there are so many opposing views of the world in our society right now - and how to navigate them. This episode includes:The "building" metaphor for levels of consciousnessHow the view differs from the ground floor to the penthouseWhy we need to have compassion for people who have only seen life from the ground floorPractices to move up the staircase of consciousnessWisdom is knowing which floor the conversation is happening onWatch full video hereLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episde I share two interlocking stories about the burden we carry when we hold onto resentment, anger, self-blame, and self-loathing. Find out how I learned to begin to let it go. This episode includes:My forgiveness gardenHow I finally recognized the cost of carrying negative emotionsThe healing of long-ago relationship disruptionsFinally releasing myself from blameHow creativity flows more freely when we're no longer carrying the heavy weight of self-blameLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

War is unfolding in many parts of the world right now, yet for many of us life continues largely unchanged.In this episode I reflect on the difference between how earlier generations experienced war—especially during World War II—and the distance many of us feel from today’s conflicts.Drawing on a story from my father’s experience in the war, I explore how we might remain present to the suffering of others without becoming overwhelmed or turning away.I also invite listeners to consider creating a simple Sunday evening vigil—a moment to pause, light a candle, and hold the people of the world in compassion.Download the Sunday Evening Vigil Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

This episode is a companion for my latest post on Substack which you'll find a link to below. Many of us are reaching a stage in life where it is important to begin cultivating our life's wisdom in order to move into the role of an elder for our society. Read about that on the post first and then listen to this episode which includes practices for becoming an elder:Set aside time every day for reflection or journalingLovingkindness BlessingLetting go ritualsSlowing downPractice recording storiesEmbrace physical changesCultivate humorSee yourself as a mentorLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this brief episode I'm sharing with you my own experience of the spiritual realm and the afterlife since many people have wondered whether or not I "believe" the afterlife exists. This episode includes:Childhood experiences of the spiritual realmWhy I don't "believe" in heaven or hell but instead have an inner knowing of the spiritual realm that we already always exist withinHow deathbed experiences and visions with hospice patients were part of my inner knowingWhy I don't fear death Learn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episode I share with you a powerful tool that we all need right now: The Lovingkindness Blessing. You can use this every day to transform your life and relationships - the world is starving for lovingkindness right now so I hope you will give this practice a try! This episode includes:The power of tiny acts of kindnessMetta as a Buddhist practiceHow I began to use The Lovingkindness BlessingThe 5 components of the blessingDownload The Lovingkindness BlessingLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episode I'm sharing my own up and down journey of learning how to step forward with love in this world where hatred surrounds us. This episode includes:My desire to not add to the burden of hatred the world is already bearingHow the March for Peace by Buddhist monks inspired me this weekWhy we need to stay motivated by love even during times of fear, anger, dismayWhat fierce love really means and why it's not soft or weakThe Milgram Experiment and what it tells us about our human natureLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

In this episode I talk about the horrific state of affairs in the world and especially here in the US where we are confronted on a daily basis with violence, hatred, and inhumanity. We are awake now to the reality of the dark side of human nature and though we feel change is coming we don't know how long it will take. This episode includes:Societal change takes time - we have to be in it for the long haulEvery little step makes a differenceFind a reason to stay hopeful and grateful every day rather than falling into despairKeep working on your own shadowBe creative in your own unique way every dayLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here

This episode is a post-illness reflection on what happens when all our plans and aspirations get waylaid and we end up getting nowhere that we had planned to be. It includes:How my end of year plans got upendedA metaphor of going NOWHERE on a forlorn highwayWhy nowhere is exactly the right place to be (Now Here in fact)How inspiration arises when the ego runs out of certaintyWhy this matters during the holiday seasonLearn about my books hereCheck out End-of-Life University PodcastRead my latest Substack postMake a donation here